THE NEWS: Israeli PM made secret Egypt trip for Gaza talks: report

Israeli PM made secret Egypt trip for Gaza talks: report
source: AFP

AFP/File / HO A handout picture from the Egyptian Presidency shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in New York on September 18, 2017

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a rare, secret visit to Egypt in May for talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israeli television reported Monday.

There was no immediate confirmation of the visit from official sources, but the private Channel 10 station said the leaders met on May 22.

That followed a day of huge protests on May 14 along the Gaza border against the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, sparking clashes which left 63 Palestinians dead.

Gaza lies between Israel and Egypt, which has previously mediated between Netanyahu's government and the Islamist Hamas movement that controls the coastal enclave.

According to American sources quoted by Channel 10, Netanyahu and Sisi discussed the possibility of a long-term truce in the Strip, where Israel has since 2008 fought three wars with Hamas.

The Islamists seized power in the territory after a virtual civil war with the Fatah movement of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, and Gaza has been under a crushing Israeli blockade for a decade.

Netanyahu and Sisi also examined the possible return of the Palestinian Authority to the territory, an easing of Israel's blockade and reconstruction of Gaza's war-scarred infrastructure, the report said.

The Egyptian presidency was not immediately available to comment on the Channel 10 report.

Gaza has seen mass protests since the end of March as Palestinians demand the right to return to homes their families fled or were expelled from in 1948 during the war surrounding the creation of Israel.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that another round of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza was inevitable, despite attempts to reach a long-term truce.

There have also been three major military flare-ups between Israel and Hamas since July, on top of the months of tension along the border.

At least 169 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March 30, mostly during clashes sparked by demonstrations.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July.

There have been efforts by United Nations officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, though Israeli officials have not commented on them.

A fragile truce came into effect Thursday night, mediated by Egypt and the UN, according to a source close to the negotiations.

Thursday saw extensive Israeli air strikes in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies beginning on Wednesday night.

THE NEWS: 200-million year old Pterosaur 'built for flying'

200-million year old Pterosaur 'built for flying'
source: AFP

AFP / Laurence CHU New species of flying reptile discovered in the US

Scientists on Monday unveiled a previously unknown species of giant pterosaur, the first creatures with a backbone to fly under their own power.

Neither dino nor bird, pterosaurs -- more commonly known as pterodactyls -- emerged during the late Triassic period more than 200 million years ago and lorded over primeval skies until a massive space rock slammed into Earth, wiping out the dinosaurs and most other forms of life some 65 million years ago.

The newly discovered member of the family, identified through remains found in northeastern Utah, had a wing-span of 1.5 metres (five feet) and 112 teeth, including fang-like spikes sticking out near the snout.

A jutting lower jaw suggests a pelican-like pouch, perhaps to scoop up fish and unsuspecting small reptiles.

"They are delicately framed animals that are built for flying," said Brooks Britt, a paleontologist at Brigham Young University in Utah and lead author of a study in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Caelestiventus hanseni -- roughly, "heavenly wind" -- is probably the most complete skeletal remains of a pterosaur ever found.

"Most pterosaurs bones look like road-kill," Britt told AFP, noting that there are only 30-odd specimens worldwide from the Triassic period which lasted some 51 million years.

By contrast, the new specimen comprises dozens of intact bones and teeth, along with an entire brain casing.

The wings are in fact skin membranes largely held up by the fourth "finger", or digit, of their forelimbs. Huge sockets suggest C. hanseni had "fantastic eyesight", said Britt.

- Saints & Sinners -

When not soaring in search of a meal, it walked on all fours with its wings folded vertically.

The fossil remains are still encased in sandstone, but scientists generated accurate 3-D images and models of each bone using CAT-scan technology.

The site where C. hanseni was unearthed, known to fossil hunters as Saints & Sinners, reveals a dramatic story of survival and local extinction in the face of climate change, the researchers said.

The rocks it was found in were part of an oasis in a two-million square kilometre (775,000 square mile) desert covered with giant sand dunes.

"During droughts, large numbers of animals -- including pterosaurs, predatory dinosaurs and crocodylomorphs -- were drawn to the pond in the middle of the oasis, where they died as water dried up," said Britt.

The result was a treasure trove of more than 18,000 bones and fragments from dozens of water-starved animals.

C. hanseni is not the biggest pterosaur ever found, but was likely the largest of its era, especially for a desert environment.

It also predates other desert-dwelling specimens by about 65 million years. Pterosaurs from the same period found so far came from ancient coastal areas in what is now Europe and Greenland.

That the high-flying creatures were spread across much of the globe may have helped them survive the end-of-Triassic mass extinction, which wiped out half of the species on land and in the sea.

THE NEWS: Markets rattled as Turkish lira dives

Markets rattled as Turkish lira dives
source: AFP

AFP/File / ADEM ALTAN President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey is the victim of a 'political, underhand plot'

Turkey's troubled lira tumbled Monday to fresh record lows against the euro and dollar, piling pressure on stock markets on fears the country's crisis could spill over into the world economy.

The country's troubles already sparked a sell-off on stock markets late last week, but the lira crisis did more damage to equities in Europe and on Wall Street.

The US dollar, Japanese yen and the Swiss franc have been the preferred safe havens for scared investors.

The lira dived to record lows of 7.24 to the dollar and 8.12 against the euro very early in the day, then recovered somewhat after Turkey's central bank announced a raft of measures aimed at calming markets, only to slip back again late in the session.

"The attempts by Turkey to halt the demise of the lira and the country's soaring bond yields have proven inadequate thus far," said David Cheetham, chief market analyst at XTB.

Worries were focused on the possible impact on some European banks, including Spain's BBVA, Italy's UniCredit and France's BNP Paribas.

US banks also had a bad session on Monday, with JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Bank of America all losing more than 1.5 percent.

"Investors remained fearful on Monday (over) the Turkish lira's precipitous plunge -- and the concerns that a financial crisis in the country would ripple through the rest of Europe," Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell said.

- 'Limited impact so far' -

"So far the impact of the lira crash has been limited in Europe and the rest of the world," said Agathe Demarais, Turkey analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit, in comments emailed to AFP.

"However, within a few months Western banks that have strong ties with Turkey will feel the impact of the crisis as Turkish corporates will struggle to repay debt in foreign currency.

"The sharp depreciation of the lira has almost doubled the local currency value of external debt repayments since the start of the year," Demarais added.

The lira had tumbled some 16 percent against the dollar on Friday, after US President Donald Trump said he doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum from Turkey.

The crisis has been sparked by a series of issues including a faltering economy -- the central bank has defied market calls for rate hikes -- and tensions with the United States, which has hit Turkey with sanctions over its detention of an American pastor.

Investors are now fretting over potential economic contagion.

In its first statement since what was dubbed "Black Friday" in Turkey, the nation's central bank said Monday it was ready to take "all necessary measures" to ensure financial stability, promising to provide banks with "all the liquidity" they need.

The central bank also lowered reserve requirement ratios for banks, in a move also aimed at staving off any liquidity issues.

But to the dismay of markets, the statement gave no clear promise of rate hikes, which is what most economists say is needed.

- Bayer stock plunges -

In Frankfurt on Monday, investors fled shares in German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer, fearing a massive damages ruling against one of newly-acquired US firm Monsanto's flagship products could signal a wave of costly lawsuits.

Tesla Motors advanced 0.3 percent after Chief Executive Elon Musk said he was in talks with the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund to financing his plan to take the electric car maker private.

The statement comes as Musk faces questions over his claim last week that he had "secured" financing for the deal.

- Key figures around 2030 GMT -

Dollar/Turkish lira: UP at 6.96 lira from 6.43 lira late Friday

Euro/Turkish lira: UP at 7.94 lira from 7.34 lira

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1405 from $1.1413 at 2100 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2763 from $1.2758

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 110.63 yen from 110.83 yen

New York - Dow Jones: DOWN 0.5 percent at 25,187.70 (close)

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.4 percent at 2,821.93 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.3 percent at 7,819.71 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 7,642.45 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.5 percent at 12,358.74 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 5,412.32 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,409.68 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.0 percent at 21,857.43 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 1.5 percent at 27,936.57 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 2,785.87 (close)

Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 20 cents at $72.61 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 43 cents at $67.20 per barrel

burs-jmb/hs

Federer 'anxious' ahead of return in Cincinnati 2018

Federer 'anxious' ahead of return in Cincinnati


GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / MATTHEW STOCKMAN Roger Federer is returning to action for the first time since his quarter-final exit at Wimbledon

Roger Federer on Monday said he is eager to make his start at the Cincinnati Masters as the world number two begins his delayed summer hardcourt season.

With the US Open a fortnight away, the 37-year-old Swiss is keen to test his form prior to the August 27 kick-off of the last Grand Slam of the season.

The 20-time major winner skipped Toronto last week to pace himself with the tournament at Flushing Meadows followed by the Laver Cup in Chicago in mid-September.

"I've trained hard, I'm anxious. I chose to skip Toronto for the health of my body," the seven-time Cincinnati champion said. "I don't want to be hurt, there is too much to play."

But the Swiss admitted that sitting out competition is difficult.

"Watching from afar is tough," said Federer, who will start against Peter Gojowczyk after the German beat Portugal's Joao Sousa 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.

"But that's part of growing older, you've got to take care of the body.

"It's nice to be back and I hope to have a good tournament."

Federer last played a match on hardcourt 141 days ago, when he lost in the Miami second round to Thanasi Kokkinakis before skipping the clay season and returning on grass.

He said that while he would prefer not to take weeks away, it has now become a necessity in prolonging his fabled career.

"You've got to keep it all in perspective, it's easier now for me to take time away. I wish I could play everything but it's not possible.

"I'm more relaxed about my schedule now. I have more time for the family, which is important for me," the father of two sets of twins said.

"The hectic part of my life has passed. Even when I have to take time away, I still get something out of it."

Federer did express regret that Rafael Nadal, the Toronto champion, had to withdraw from Cincinnati in order to ease the strain on his body after a solid, if demanding, week of success.

"It's a pity Rafa is not playing, but it's still an amazing draw."

THE NEWS: Bloomberg targets Big Tobacco's 'underhanded tactics'

Bloomberg targets Big Tobacco's 'underhanded tactics'
source: AFP

AFP / Ludovic MARIN Billionaire Michael Bloomberg is giving financial support to a trio of anti-tobacco crusaders around the world

Billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday gave a trio of anti-tobacco crusaders $20 million to up their game against an industry aggressively marketing its deadly wares worldwide, especially in developing countries.

The non-profit groups -- based in France, England and Thailand -- jointly secured the three-year grant to spotlight industry-led sabotage of policies designed to reduce tobacco use, Bloomberg told AFP.

"I'm sympathetic," he said by phone. "They want to promote their products and make money for their stockholders."

"But it is killing people, and I have always thought there is a point at which there are things more valuable -- more important -- than just increasing the bottom line."

The new initiative "will protect consumers by shining a light on the tobacco industry's underhanded tactics, including marketing directly to children," Bloomberg added.

The Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath in Britain, staffed by academics and journalists, has long tracked tobacco industry efforts to influence public policy, publishing its findings since 2011 on tobaccotactics.org.

Big Tobacco's tactics to expand markets have included suing governments seeking to implement plain packaging for cigarettes, sponsoring cultural events or sports teams, and challenging the legality of smoke-free zones.

In Thailand, The Global Centre for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) focuses on Southeast Asia, and produces the Tobacco Industry Interference Index.


 AFP / INDRANIL MUKHERJEE An Indian man smokes a cigarette in Mumbai


Finally, the Paris-based International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease -- a scientific organisation -- publishes the Tobacco Atlas, a national and global statistical database, and works with governments in 50 countries.

"Together, they can help save a lot of lives," said Bloomberg, who has given away upwards of a billion dollars over the last decade for the cause.

Tobacco claims nearly seven million lives each year from cancer and other lung diseases, a million in China alone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Smoking has plateaued in most rich nations, but in the developing world the total number of tobacco users -- overwhelmingly men, especially the young -- keeps climbing.

- A 'smoke-free world'? -

The industry sold 5.5 trillion cigarettes last year to more than a billion smokers, generating $700 billion (570 billion euros) in sales.

British American Tobacco, the largest publicly-traded tobacco company, raked in 5.2 billion pounds (5.8 billion euros, $7.2 billion) in profits in 2016.

"This is the only product I know of where if you use it as advertised, it will kill you," said Bloomberg.

The Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products (STOP) initiative was announced in March at the World Conference on tobacco or Health in Cape Town, South Africa.

"The tobacco industry is a major obstacle in the global drive to stop people dying early from cancer and heart disease," WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said of the plan.

"STOP will be a key partner in the effort to uncover and overcome these barriers to tobacco control."

In September 2017, tobacco giant Philip Morris set up the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World with a 12-year endowment of $80 million.

The move has been dismissed by public health advocates as a public relations ploy, and a way to position the company in the booming smokeless tobacco market.

E-cigarettes, however, remain controversial given their claim to be less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

A study published Thursday in the medical journal Thorax, for example, reports that so-called vaping can damage vital immune system cells in the lungs.

"Many e-cigarette companies have been bought up by the tobacco giants and there's certainly an agenda to portray e-cigarettes as safe," said lead author David Thickett from the University of Birmingham in England.

THE NEWS: SpaceX vows manned flight to space station is on track

SpaceX vows manned flight to space station is on track
source: AFP

 AFP / Robyn Beck A mock up of the Crew Dragon spacecraft is displayed during a media tour of SpaceX headquarters and rocket factory in Hawthorne, California

Tech magnate Elon Musk's SpaceX vowed Monday to send its first astronauts into orbit on schedule next year -- part of a drive to restore America's dominance of the space race.

Gwynne Shotwell, the aerospace manufacturer's president, told journalists in Los Angeles an unmanned flight to the International Space Station in November would pave the way for a manned mission in April 2019.

"Predicting launch dates could make a liar out of the best of us. I hope I am not proven to be a liar on this one," she said.

NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 as part of its commercial crew program, aimed at helping private industry build spaceships to reach low-Earth orbit.

On August 3 the agency named the first nine astronauts who will fly to space on Boeing and SpaceX vehicles in 2019 -- a mix of novices and veterans.


AFP / Robyn Beck (L-R) Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover, the NASA astronauts chosen for the Commercial Crew Program to fly on the SpaceX Crew Dragon


Those named for the SpaceX test crew include shuttle veterans Bob Behnken, Michael Hopkins and Douglas Hurley, alongside naval aviator Victor Glover, a novice to spaceflight.

The flights to the ISS will be the first leaving US soil to put people into orbit since the iconic space shuttle program ended in 2011.

For seven years, NASA astronauts have hitched rides to the orbiting outpost on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft -- at a cost of some $80 million a seat.

A US government report released in July said it was unlikely that SpaceX would be able to send astronauts to the ISS next year.

Shotwell said however the mission would go ahead as soon as SpaceX was "ready to fly these folks safely."

"Next in line we want to make sure not only that we get these folks up and back safely but that that's reliable and a mission that we conclude," she added.


AFP / Robyn Beck The SpaceX spacesuit to be worn by NASA astronauts when they travel to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule

"We want to hit all the boxes do everything we need to do, to demonstrate that this vehicle is capable of taking astronauts up from US soil as often as NASA will allow us."

SpaceX unveiled its astronauts, all clad in blue overalls and smiling proudly in front of the module that will transport them to the ISS, to answer questions from the media.

"Being able to fly as a first flight a vehicle as a test pilot is a 'once in a generation' type of opportunity, so obviously I'm very thankful for it," said Hurley.

"But I would also say that we've got a lot of work left to do."

THE NEWS: Defiant Kirchner before judge in sweeping anti-corruption probe

Defiant Kirchner before judge in sweeping anti-corruption probe
source: AFP

AFP / EITAN ABRAMOVICH As a senator, Cristina Kirchner enjoys congressional immunity from imprisonment, though not from prosecution

Former Argentine president Cristina Kirchner appeared before a judge leading a major probe into corruption under her government Monday, hitting out at what she described as "judicial persecutions" to rule her out of next year's elections.

More than a dozen elite businessmen and former government officials were arrested after La Nacion newspaper reported on August 1 that millions in bribes were delivered by a ministerial chauffeur to Kirchner's residences, both during her presidency and that of her late husband Nestor.

The driver's meticulous records of the cash deliveries -- allegedly payments from business leaders in exchange for public works contracts -- form the basis of the investigation.

Dressed in a trouser suit and waving to supporters, a defiant Kirchner pushed her way past journalists into Judge Claudio Bonadio's court in Buenos Aires where she denounced the case as an example of the political persecution she has faced under her right-wing successor Mauricio Macri.

"This is a new regional strategy to outlaw leaders, movements and political forces that expanded rights and allowed millions of people out of poverty during the first decade and a half of the 21st Century," Kirchner wrote Monday on Twitter.

As a senator, Kirchner enjoys congressional immunity from imprisonment, though not prosecution. She is facing trial in several other corruption cases and Bonadio has petitioned the Senate to lift her immunity.

He wants to search Kirchner's properties for evidence in the "corruption notebooks" case, so called because the driver, Oscar Centeno, recorded over a decade of cash drops in a set of notebooks.

According to Centeno's bombshell evidence, the Kirchners' residence in Buenos Aires was the venue for the handover of millions of dollars in cash, with others taking place at the Casa Rosada government headquarters and the Olivos official presidential residence.

Prosecutor Carlos Stornelli has said a total of $160 million in bribes was handed over during a 10-year period from 2005-15.


AFP / EITAN ABRAMOVICH Kirchner is facing trial in several other corruption cases


"There is no doubt that the copybooks describe in detail the way in which the Kirchners raised money illegally for seven years without any alarm going off at any oversight agency," said Nicolas Solari of the consultancy Poliarquia.

So far, eight business leaders have confessed and struck plea-bargain deals.

Angelo Calcaterra, a cousin of Macri, acknowledged having ordered the payment of cash requested as a bribe in order to receive government contracts.

Testifying before the judge, he said he thought this was a mandatory election campaign contribution.

- 'Persecution' -

Bonadio suspects the 65-year-old of being the main beneficiary of a system of corruption funded by the public works sector, via the planning ministry.

Refusing to answer questions, the former president instead hit out angrily at what she said was blatant political persecution engineered by Macri.

"From the moment the engineer Mauricio Macri assumed power I have been subjected to multiple judicial persecutions," Kirchner said in a written statement delivered to the court.

The aim, she said, was her "political elimination" ahead of next year's presidential elections. She has long railed against Bonadio as her tormentor-in-chief.

"Since December 15,2015, six criminal cases have been produced against me, all in Comodoro Py (the Federal Court). Of the six, five have been opened, or being investigated by, Bonadio."

For all her battles with the judicial system, Kirchner remains one of Argentina's most popular figures, leader of the opposition to Macri's center-right government.

On Sunday, after confirming she would attend Monday's hearing, she called on her supporters not to demonstrate outside the courthouse.

Monday's court appearance was the fourth time Kirchner has appeared before Bonadio, who is investigating the leftist former president in a slew of other corruption cases. They include alleged foreign exchange manipulation and the signing of a memorandum with Iran that Bonadio argues effectively protected from prosecution Iranian suspects in the deadly 1994 bombing of Argentine Jewish centers.

- Big Business -


 AFP / EITAN ABRAMOVICH Supporters of the former Argentine president wait outside her apartment in Buenos Aires

Centeno, who has been questioned by Bonadio and authenticated the notebooks given to La Nacion, worked as a chauffeur for the former deputy planning minister Roberto Barrata, who is also under arrest.

The case involves some of Argentina's biggest business leaders, among them Calcaterra, former directors of the Italo-Argentine company Techint and construction industry leaders.

The notebooks, said Leandro Despouy, a former government auditor general, "implicate a large number of businessmen, not just government officials."

He said the case could end up being as big in Argentina as the ground-shaking "Car Wash" corruption investigation in neighboring Brazil, which has ensnared and sullied many prominent members of the Brazilian political and business elite.

THE NEWS: Questions, open wounds remain on anniversary of Catalonia jihadist attacks

Questions, open wounds remain on anniversary of Catalonia jihadist attacks
source: AFP

AFP / Pau Barrena People run after a van rammed into crowds on Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona last summer. Before being shot dead by police, the driver had killed 15 people.

On August 17 last year a van rammed into crowds on Las Ramblas boulevard in the heart of Barcelona, igniting four days of terror which investigators are still trying to explain and the survivors to overcome.

The van driver, Younes Abouyaaqoub, a 22-year-old Moroccan, abandoned the vehicle and disappeared into a busy market. He then stole a car, killed the driver and ran over a police officer at a roadblock.

When he was finally shot dead by police after four days on the run, he had killed 15 people of nine different nationalities -- including an Australian boy aged seven and a three-year-old Spanish boy. Over 100 people were wounded.

Meanwhile five of his accomplices imitated him in the early hours of August 18, mowing down pedestrians on the promenade of the seaside resort of Cambrils south of Barcelona before stabbing a woman to death.

The attackers, aged 17 to 24, were killed by police.

Investigators have reconstructed the broad outline of how the attacks were prepared but they are still seeking to establish if this terrorist cell, including three surviving members who are in prison awaiting trial, had real links to the Islamic State group which claimed responsibility for the attacks, and if they received orders from outside Spain.

They have established that Abdelbaki Es Satty, a 44-year-old Moroccan who had been jailed for drug trafficking, became an imam at one of the two mosques in Ripoll, a town of some 10,000 residents at the foot of the Pyrenees, where he indoctrinated a dozen young people, mostly second-generation Moroccan immigrants.

- No foreign links -


 AFP / Josep LAGO Forensic policemen arrive in the cordoned off area after the deadly jihadist attack using a van to plough down pedestrians on Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona last August 17.


The imam died on August 16, a day before the Barcelona attack, along with another member of the cell, in an accidental explosion while preparing the easy-to-make but deadly explosive TATP, which police believe they intended to use for a more deadly attack.

Known as the "mother of Satan", TATP has become the explosive of choice for the Islamic State group.

Barcelona landmarks such as the Sagrada Familia basilica and its Camp Nou stadium, along with a gay disco, were mentioned by the cell as possible targets.

But the destruction of the explosives prompted the cell to improvise and carry out a vehicle attack, modelled after the one in Nice, France, in 2016 that killed 85 people.

Despite the similarities -- and even though the imam left behind a text in the name of the "soldiers of the Islamic State" -- investigators across Europe have searched in vain for evidence that the attackers had contacts abroad that may have given them instructions.

During the 18 months that preceded the attacks, some of the members of the Ripoll cell travelled to Switzerland, France, Belgium and Morocco.

"We have not found to date in any of our lines of investigation evidence of a reliable external catalyst for the attacks," Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Vazquez of Spain's Guardia Civil police told AFP.

- Shadow of secession -


AFP / NICOLAS CARVALHO OCHOA People help injured persons after a van ploughed into the crowd on the popular Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona on August 17, 2017.

Most family members of the victims and survivors of the attacks decline to talk about the painful events.

Javier Garcia, the father of a three-year-old boy named Xavi who was killed on Las Ramblas, complained during an interview with Catalan TV that reporters "don't let us mourn".

The attacks were quickly eclipsed in the news by Catalonia's attempt to secede from Spain last October following a banned independence referendum in the wealthy northeastern region, which was marred by police violence.

The need to respect the victims appears to have brought a temporary truce in the conflict between Spain's central government and the separatists that govern Catalonia.

Catalan independence organisations have asked their supporters not to protest against the presence of King Felipe VI at a Barcelona ceremony on Friday to mark the anniversary of the attacks. The head of the Catalan government, Quim Torra, has said the king is not welcome.

These tensions hindered the investigation into the attacks as national police forces and regional Catalan police all have jurisdiction over terrorism cases.

"Rivalry, mistrust and the exchange of accusations... are probably the most negative side of these days, aside from the victims of the attacks," said the International Observatory for Terrorism Studies, a private research centre based in Spain.

THE NEWS: Omarosa's White House recordings fuel Trump woes

Omarosa's White House recordings fuel Trump woes
source: AFP

 AFP/File / SAUL LOEB President Donald Trump (L) has already branded Omarosa Manigault Newman (R, in focus) a "lowlife" after she released a recording of her firing by chief of staff John Kelly

President Donald Trump on Monday plunged himself into a made-for-TV spat with his former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman -- a mud-slinging match that has fuelled fears of chaos in his White House and cast doubt on his pledge to hire "only the best people."

Manigault Newman -- who first gained fame as a contestant on Trump's reality show "The Apprentice," and then secured a $180,000-a-year staff job at the White House -- released a recording of a private conversation she had with the president after she was fired.

The recording by the disgruntled 44-year-old, once an ardent Trump ally, represents another stunning breach of presidential trust. It also came on the eve of the release of her tell-all book, "Unhinged."

NBC's "Today" program on Monday played the brief recording, in which Trump claims to have had no knowledge that she was sacked and expresses regret at the news.

That revelation sparked a stream of presidential invective on Twitter.

"Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will," Trump said in a stream of angry tweets.

The Republican president claimed that Manigault Newman "already has a fully signed Non-Disclosure Agreement!" -- a first admission that members of the administration were asked to sign potentially illegal hush deals.

If such deals prohibit government staff from revealing all information they learn of at work, the American Civil Liberties Union said "they are unconstitutional and unenforceable."

- 'They run a big operation' -

Manigault Newman's recordings have also caused political problems for Trump, dominating American headlines for days -- and she told NBC that there are "absolutely" more audio files.

The latest recording appears to show a president who has little knowledge of what is happening inside his own White House -- or who is willing to lie to avoid confrontation.

"Omarosa? Omarosa, what's going on? I just saw on the news that you're thinking about leaving? What happened?" he said, apparently unaware she had already been fired.

"Nobody even told me about it," Trump is heard saying, after chief of staff John Kelly terminated her employment.

"You know they run a big operation, but I didn't know it," he says, adding: "I didn't know that. Goddamn it. I don't love you leaving at all."

Trump had already branded "Omarosa" -- as she is commonly known in America -- a "lowlife" after she released a recording of her firing by Kelly, seemingly recorded in the White House Situation Room.

He hurled angry tweets at his former friend, as he prepared to return to the White House following an 11-day vacation in New Jersey.

- 'Wacky Omarosa' -

"She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart. I would rarely see her but heard really bad things," Trump tweeted.


AFP/File / Olivier Douliery, DOMINICK REUTER Manigault Newman's firing by White House chief of staff John Kelly -- and her apparent audio taping of the encounter -- is at the center of the political firestorm


"Nasty to people & would constantly miss meetings & work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me -- until she got fired!"

Trump also rejected Manigault Newman's assertion -- made in her upcoming book -- that he was caught on mic using the N-word during the making of "The Apprentice."

The president tweeted Monday night that the show's creator Mark Burnett "called to say that there are NO TAPES of the Apprentice where I used such a terrible and disgusting word as attributed by Wacky and Deranged Omarosa. I don't have that word in my vocabulary, and never have."

Trump seemed to acknowledge that the unseemly fight would have been unusual for most of his 44 predecessors as president of the United States.

"While I know it's 'not presidential' to take on a lowlife like Omarosa, and while I would rather not be doing so, this is a modern day form of communication and I know the Fake News Media will be working overtime to make even Wacky Omarosa look legitimate as possible. Sorry!"

She fired back, telling NBC: "I think it's sad with all of the things going on in the country that he would take time out to insult me and to insult my intelligence. This is his pattern with African Americans. He doesn't know how to control himself."

Manigault Newman later expressed willingness to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Moscow -- and indicated that she had already been contacted by his office.

"If his office calls again, anything they want, I'll share," she said on MSNBC's "Hardball."

Trump came to office vowing to hire "only the best people" -- but has struggled to put a lid on leaks, incompetence, backbiting and scandal inside his White House.

THE NEWS: Serena Williams breezes past Gavrilova, Pouille ousts Murray

Serena Williams breezes past Gavrilova, Pouille ousts Murray
source: AFP

 GETTY/AFP / Rob Carr Serena Williams showed full recovery in her first match since suffering the worst defeat of her career two weeks ago in San Jose

Serena Williams re-established her customary superiority, hammering Daria Gavrilova 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Cincinnati Masters on Monday.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion showed full recovery in her first match since suffering the worst defeat of her career two weeks ago in San Jose when she was crushed 6-1, 6-0 in 51 minutes by British No. 1 Johanna Konta.

But the 36-year-old was all business Monday as she cleaned up on Australian Gavrilova, with Williams winning an 11th straight match here.

"I'm feeling pretty good tonight. It's never easy, no matter what the scoreline says," Williams said.

"I definitely felt relaxed after the first break, but you've got to keep going and try to go in for the whole thing."

Though she has not played the tournament in three years, Williams lifted back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 after losing the 2013 final to Victoria Azarenka.

Andy Murray's injury comeback was sidetracked as the three-time Grand Slam champion lost 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 to Lucas Pouille.

But fellow injury patient Stan Wawrinka opened with a defeat of 12th seed Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic survived a stiff test, needing nine match points to outlast Steve Johnson of the US 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). Djokovic is coming off a third round loss at last week's Toronto tournament.

Murray, returning from January hip surgery, was unable to get past the French 16th seed, hampering his preparations for the US Open starting on August 27

"Physically, I felt okay. It's quick conditions here," Murray said. "He was a little bit sharper than me out there.


 GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / Rob Carr Andy Murray suffered an early exit at an event he won in 2008 and 2011


"I maybe wasn't reacting as quickly to some shots I would have liked."

Murray last played 11 days ago in a Washington third-round match which took him three hours to win and ended at 3 a.m.

The 31-year-old two-time Wimbledon winner is working his way back slowly and felt he could not subject his body to a quarter-final just over 12 hours later, prompting him to withdraw from that event.

"After Washington, I took four, five days off the tennis court. I did a lot of training, a lot of rehab.

"As the year goes on, I'll be able to get a little bit more consistency like on the practice court and on the tennis court."

Pouille had lost his previous three matches to Murray, the last at Dubai in 2017.

Spanish 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta started his week with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 defeat of France's Richard Gasquet, while Japan's Kei Nishikori put out Russian Andrey Rublev, 7-5, 6-3.

Peter Gojowczyk of Germany defeated Joao Sousa 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 and will next line up against seven-time winner Roger Federer, at second the highest seed in the field after the withdrawal of Rafael Nadal.

- Shapovalov advances -

Canadian Denis Shapovalov beat US tournament debutant Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-5

Sam Querrey beat ninth-seeded American compatriot John Isner 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5).

In the women's first round, Azarenka made her first appearance here since 2015 count as she defeated Spanish veteran Carla Suarez Navarro 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4.

Double Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova continued her 2017 injury comeback, beating Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5).

US Open finalist Madison Keys, seeded 13th, defeated wild card Bethanie Mattek-Sands 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4; France's Kristina Mladenovic advanced when Julia Goerges retired hurt trailing 6-4, 3-2.

THE NEWS: Ex-Australian archbishop avoids jail for concealing child abuse

Ex-Australian archbishop avoids jail for concealing child abuse
source: AFP

AFP/File / Peter LORIMER Former Australian archbishop Philip Wilson (C) became one of the highest-ranked church officials convicted of covering up child sex abuse when he was found guilty in May of concealing crimes by priest Jim Fletcher

A former Australian archbishop convicted of concealing abuse by a notorious paedophile priest in the 1970s was confronted by enraged victims outside a courthouse Tuesday after a judge spared him jail and ordered he serve his sentence at home.

Philip Wilson became one of the highest-ranked church officials convicted of covering up child sex abuse when he was found guilty in May of concealing crimes by priest Jim Fletcher in the Hunter region of New South Wales state.

The Newcastle Local Court sentenced the 67-year-old to 12 months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of six months, but also ordered that he be assessed to serve it in home detention.

Wilson had since been on bail and on Tuesday magistrate Robert Stone decided he will not need to spend time behind bars, with his age and prior good record taken into account.

But he will have to wear a tracking device while serving his sentence.

Wilson said nothing as he left the court, where he was mobbed by abuse survivors and members of the media.

Peter Gogarty, one of Fletcher's victims, asked Wilson to apologise, but the cleric stayed silent.

"Any words for me, Philip? Philip will you say sorry for what you have done to me and other child sex abuse survivors?," he yelled. "Philip, please, something ... one word of contrition."

One of Wilson's supporters asked Gogarty why he did not come forward 40 years ago.

A fuming Gogarty called him "a pig, a typical Catholic", to which the Wilson aide replied: "I don't have time for rubbish like you, mate."

Another Fletcher victim Daniel Feenan also criticised Wilson for failing to say sorry.

"I'd like to see him show some type of remorse and I'd like to see him apologise," he told the Newcastle Herald.

- In our prayers -

Wilson resigned as Archbishop of Adelaide last month soon after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on the Vatican to sack him. He remains an ordained bishop but has no official role.

He has long denied the charges and initially resisted calls to quit pending an appeal against his conviction.

Stone found him guilty of concealing a serious indictable offence of another person, concluding his primary motive was to protect the church.

During sentencing Stone added that "there is no remorse or contrition showed by the offender".

Wilson's conviction comes amid a host of accusations that the Catholic Church ignored and covered up child abuse in Australia, charges that have also plagued other countries.

There was no dispute during the trial that Fletcher, who is now dead, sexually abused an altar boy, with the hearing focused on whether Wilson, then a junior priest, was told about it.

In a brief statement, Bishop Greg O'Kelly, who is running the Adelaide archdiocese until a new archbishop is appointed, said Wilson was "in his prayers as he formally commences this stage in his life, while also remembering the victims and survivors of abuse in the Church".

Wilson served as a priest in New South Wales before Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Wollongong in 1996. Five years later he became the Archbishop of Adelaide.

THE NEWS: Vienna topples Melbourne in 'most liveable city' ranking

Vienna topples Melbourne in 'most liveable city' ranking
source: AFP

AFP / JOE KLAMAR Vienna has been ranked the world most liveable city in a new survey

Austria's capital Vienna has beaten Melbourne to be ranked the "world's most liveable city" in a new annual survey released Monday, ending the southern Australian city's seven-year reign.

It is the first time a European metropolis has topped the annual chart compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit which identifies the best urban playgrounds to live and work in.

Each year 140 cities are given scores out of 100 on a range of factors such as living standards, crime, transport infrastructure, access to education and healthcare, as well as political and economic stability.

Vienna scored a "near-ideal" 99.1, beating Melbourne into second place on 98.4. Japan's Osaka took third place.

Australia and Canada dominated the top ten, each boasting three cities. Australia had Melbourne, Sydney (fifth) and Adelaide (10th) while Canada had Calgary (fourth), Vancouver (sixth) and Toronto (joint seventh).

"Those that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries," researchers said in their report.

They noted that several cities in the top 10 had relatively low population densities which fostered "a range of recreational activities without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure".

Australia and Canada, researchers said, have an overall average population density of 3.2 and four people per square kilometre respectively, compared to a global average of 58.

Japan, which alongside Osaka boasted Tokyo in the top ten (joint seventh), is the glaring exception to that rule with a nationwide average of 347 people per square kilometre but its cities are still famed for their transport networks and living standards.

Copenhagen was the only other European city in the top ten at ninth place.

Researchers said wealthy financial capitals such as Paris (19th), London (48th) and New York (57th) tended to be "victims of their own success" with higher crime rates and overstretched infrastructure dampening their appeal.

At the other end of the spectrum the five worst cities to live in were Damascus at the bottom of the table followed by Dhaka, Lagos, Karachi and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

The survey also looked at cities where long-term improvements had been made. Abidjan, Hanoi, Belgrade and Tehran saw the largest improvements in liveability over the last five years -- more than five percentage points.

Ukraine's Kiev, the capital of a European country wracked by political violence, civil war and the loss of Crimea to Russia, saw the largest drop in its liveability over the last five years (-12.6 percent).

Puerto Rico's San Juan -- which was devastated by a hurricane last year -- as well as Damascus and Caracas also saw steep drops over the same period.

THE NEWS: China data shows economic momentum flagging

China data shows economic momentum flagging
source: AFP

 AFP / Johannes EISELE China's economy is showing signs of sluggishness just as the government embarks on a trade row with the US while fighting a huge debt mountain

The Chinese economy is displaying further signs of weakness, with data Tuesday showing investment slumped to a record low in the first seven months of the year and retail sales slowed.

Beijing faces a delicate balancing act, aiming to shift its growth driver away from investment and exports and towards personal consumption, while at the same time battling a mountain of debt.

A trade brawl with Washington has added to the difficulties -- the yuan and stock markets have tumbled in recent weeks -- providing relief to exporters but hurting Chinese consumers.

US tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, and retaliatory levies from Beijing, came into force in early July, with more tit-for-tat measures due next week.

But the extent of the conflict's impact on China remains unclear, said National Bureau of Statistics spokeswoman Liu Aihua. Trade data last week showed exports holding up in July.

"The negative impact will be gradual, with the impact on the international economy and the global economy already emerging," Liu said.

Output at factories and workshops expanded 6.0 percent year-on-year in July, in line with June's reading, according to the NBS but short of the 6.3 percent forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.

Retail sales, a key gauge of domestic consumption, rose 8.8 percent in July, down from nine percent in June, and also missing estimates of 9.1 percent.

Fixed-asset investment, the lifeblood of China's economy, expanded just 5.5 percent in January-July, the slowest pace on record.

"We see further downside risks to economic activity in the coming months given that credit growth is still slowing," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics.

Last month China's cabinet indicated it would step up its support for the economy and officials have said approval of infrastructure projects will quicken in the second half of the year.

But the International Monetary Fund has suggested Beijing should resist another round of aggressive stimulus to boost growth, citing concerns the measures would exacerbate already excessive debt levels.

Evans-Pritchard forecast Beijing's moves could take months to kick in.

China's economic growth slowed in the second quarter to 6.7 percent, from 6.8 percent in the first quarter.

"The Chinese economy will get worse before getting better, and it takes several months to turn around," said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura investment bank.

"Beijing will step up credit easing and fiscal measures to deliver a recovery and prevent financial troubles such as a rise of bond defaults," Lu wrote in the research note.

THE NEWS: Arms, investment and 'instructors': Russia boosts Africa role

Arms, investment and 'instructors': Russia boosts Africa role
source: AFP

AFP / FLORENT VERGNES A private Russian firm, Sewa Security, provides close protection for Central African Republic President Touadera, whose security advisor is also Russian

Touting military cooperation and "instructors," arms deals and investment, Russia is making a comeback in Africa after years of inactivity and now aims to rival European countries and even China, analysts say.

Moscow has worked hard over the last three years to strengthen its position in Africa, a pace that seems to have accelerated in recent months, they say.

Its effort is most prominent in the Central African Republic (CAR), a grindingly poor and unstable country that traditionally has turned to the former colonial power France for help.

Since the start of the year, Russia has supplied weapons to the CAR army after gaining UN authorisation to do so and provides security for President Faustin-Archange Touadera, whose security advisor is Russian.

It has also sent five military officers and 170 civilians as "instructors" for CAR's armed forces, even though its troops are already being trained by the European Union.

Experts believe the "instructors" could be from a shadowy mercenary group named Wagner whose forces are reportedly fighting in Syria -- three Russian journalists were killed in the CAR last month while investigating their activities.

Elsewhere, Russia is shipping arms to Cameroon for its fight with Boko Haram jihadists and forged military partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Uganda and Angola and cooperation on nuclear power with Sudan.

It is also working with Zimbabwe's and Guinea's mining industries -- sectors where China is an emerging force in Africa.

Africa remains "at the bottom" of Russia's foreign policy priorities, but is "starting to gain more importance," said Dmitry Bondarenko of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Since 2014 and the annexation of Crimea, Russia is in confrontation with the West and openly demonstrates its desire to become a global power once again. Therefore it can't ignore this part of the globe."

But the interest, he argued, is less for economic gain and more for "political advancement".

- Strategic shift -

The Soviet Union maintained a very strong presence in Africa as part of its ideological war against the West, backing African liberation movements and sending tens of thousands of advisors to countries that had ended colonial rule.

But the collapse of the Soviet Union, economic problems and internal conflicts in Russia during the 1990s caused Moscow to abandon its African projects.

Lack of funds meant many embassies and consulates closed, aid programmes were cut short and ties drastically reduced.

A decade or so ago, the Kremlin started to rebuild its old networks and gradually return to the continent, seeking new partners as ideological concerns gave way to contracts and arms deals.


AFP / SAMIR TOUNSI Russia is also trying to shoulder its way into mining, a sector in Africa where China has a growing presence


President Vladimir Putin began the process with visits to Algeria, South Africa and Morocco -- the countries that, with Egypt, it had traditionally had close ties.

His successor for one term, Dmitry Medvedev, visited Angola, Namibia and Nigeria, pitching for business with a delegation of 400 people.

This year, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov toured five African countries, Putin flew to Johannesburg for a BRICS summit that was also attended by Angola, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda, and Russia showcased African business at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

- 'Tangible alternative' -

For some African countries, improved ties with Russia are attractive, enabling them to play the competition card with Europe and China, say commentators.

It means "having another partner, that is, another channel for investment and development and the support of a country that's powerful on the international scene," said politics expert Yevgeny Korendyasov, a former Soviet and Russian ambassador to several African countries.

In addition, Russia has none of Europe's colonial burden in Africa -- something that may appeal to African countries, where many top officials received university education in the Soviet Union.


AFP / William ICKES Map of the Central African Republic (CAR)

The CAR seems to be the first example of the benefits of Putin's shift.

During the Cold War, the country was never close to the Kremlin, but it now eyes Russia to help its troops roll back the militias who control most of the country's territory.

"Before, the countries that the West did not want to cooperate with, such as Sudan or Zimbabwe, could only turn to China," said Bondarenko.

"Now Russia is presenting itself as a tangible alternative."

This new situation "could perceptibly change the geopolitical order on the continent."

burs-or-pop-am/oc/ri/jta

THE NEWS: N. Korea suspends tour visas ahead of anniversary

N. Korea suspends tour visas ahead of anniversary
source: AFP

AFP/File / Ed JONES A leading tour operator said Pyongyang has suspended processing tourist visas ahead of a high profile anniversary next month

North Korea has stopped processing tourist visas for foreigners ahead of a high profile anniversary next month, according to a China-based tour operator.

The measure follows reports that Pyongyang had suspended visits by Chinese tour groups as it prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the country is officially known.

Koryo Tours, a popular agency among Western tourists seeking to visit the North, said on its website it had been "informed on 13 August by our partners in Pyongyang that they had been instructed from above that all tourist visa applications currently underway are to be frozen".

It was not given a reason for the freeze, the company said, but was told it would apply until the anniversary on September 9.

"This suggests to us that... a higher power in the country is simply pressing pause on tourism until it is clear to them who is coming in such delegations and how many people," it added.

Pyongyang has previously lavishly celebrated the date with military parades or mass games involving thousands of people performing acrobatic choreography in unison, and is expected this time to hold its first mass games for five years.

Speculation has also mounted that the nuclear-armed North could be preparing to mount a parade -- at which it normally shows off some of the weapons that have earned it multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is speculated to be on the guest list, as officials in the North told South Korean journalists that he was invited to the event.

In his New Year speech in January, leader Kim Jong Un said North Korean people would "greet the 70th founding anniversary of their Republic as a great, auspicious event".

The occasion comes during a rare diplomatic detente on the Korean peninsula which has seen the South's president Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un meet twice, with a third summit planned for September.

The rapprochement also led to a landmark summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, where the two leaders signed a vague agreement on denuclearisation.

Although Trump touted his summit with Kim as a historic breakthrough, the North has since criticised Washington for its "gangster-like" demands of complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament.

The US has urged the international community to maintain tough sanctions on the isolated regime.

THE NEWS: Myanmar climbers eye Hkakabo Razi -- the peak conquered only once

Myanmar climbers eye Hkakabo Razi -- the peak conquered only once
source: AFP

AFP / YE AUNG THU Pyae Phyo Aung training in Myanmar's Karen state in preparation for an attempt on Hkakabo Razi in the north of the country -- a peak so treacherous it has only been conquered once

A two-week jungle trek followed by a sheer climb up avalanche-prone slopes to a jagged ridge of icy pinnacles awaits three Myanmar mountaineers planning to take on Hkakabo Razi, a peak so treacherous it has been conquered only once.

Believed to be the highest in Southeast Asia, the mountain stands at an estimated 5,881 metres (19,294 feet) in the northern tip of Myanmar near the border with China and India, a Himalayan cap of the largely tropical nation.

The formidable route to the top starts with a gruelling 240-kilometre (150-mile) slog by foot through Kachin state's dense jungle, filled with venomous snakes and bloodsucking leeches.

But it is the challenging climb itself that has thwarted nearly all of the handful of attempts to reach the summit, one of which resulted in a deadly rescue attempt.

"The difficulty level of the mountain is extreme," Zaw Zin Khine, 32, told AFP during a break from a training session on a limestone karst cliff in eastern Karen state.

The team will have to negotiate precipitous faces of loose scree, frequent avalanches and a choice between ridges spiked with towers of rock and shrouded in snow and ice.


AFP / YE AUNG THU Aung Khaing Myint coils a rope as fellow mountaineer Zaw Zin Khine prepares gear ahead of training at a gym in Yangon ahead of their attempt on Hkakabo Razi


"There is a risk we won’t come back alive," the climber added.

He and his two partners Pyae Phyo Aung, 36, and Aung Khaing Myint, 32, aspire to make history as the first all-Myanmar team to summit the mountain.

They also hope to settle a decades-long dispute over whether Hkakabo Razi or the nearby Gamlang Razi -- also in Myanmar -- claims the honour as the region’s highest.

- 'Makes Everest look easy' -

The three climbers, now waiting for the right window in the weather to start their expedition, have been in intensive training for months, including a trip to Nepal and sessions in a Yangon gym, wearing masks to simulate low-oxygen levels at altitude.

Team member Pyae Phyo Aung is one of only two people from Myanmar to have summited Mount Everest but he says Hkakabo Razi's isolation and lack of infrastructure makes it far more perilous.


 AFP / YE AUNG THU The three climbers, now waiting for the right window in the weather to start their expedition, have been in intensive training for months

"Even if you're 70 years old, you can get to the top of Everest if you have the money to pay people to pull you up," he says.

"They maintain the routes from the base camp to the summit, have lots of porters and it's easy to find people by air if they're missing. That's not the case on Hkakabo Razi."

The first known attempt to scale the mountain was by British explorer and botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward in 1936.

In his book "Burma’s Icy Mountains", he describes how the peak "utterly defeated" him, forcing him to turn back a vertical kilometre below the top.

It took another 60 years before Japanese mountaineer Takashi Ozaki and his Myanmar climbing partner Nyima Gyaltsen prevailed on their third attempt.

Ozaki, the first-ever climber to successfully tackle Mount Everest's north face, reportedly described the peak as "one of the most difficult and dangerous mountains in the world".

Two separate expeditions in 2014 both met with costly failure.

One local Myanmar team never returned, a tragedy magnified when a rescue helicopter crashed, killing one pilot.


AFP / Myanmar mountain


The other ill-fated ascent is the subject of a National Geographic documentary.

The expedition ground to an icy halt on what team member Emily Harrington remembers as a "nightmare ridge" that dropped off for hundreds of feet on either side, leaving them "depleted on all fronts".

"We kinda assumed it would be like Nepal and Pakistan where the culture is centred around the mountains," the 31-year-old told AFP from California.

"But it's not. They’re not used to people coming here to trek so we had to take more on ourselves."

- 'Listen to the mountain' -

This year’s expedition organisers are preparing for anything.

Tycoon Tay Za, who was behind both the 2014 Myanmar team’s failed attempt and the successful ascent of Everest, is also bankrolling this venture, which is expected to take around two months.

The three climbers will have a five-member support team and some 70 porters to help -— compared to 25 last time -- as well as several rescue helicopters on stand-by.

"If we complete this, we can be proud Myanmar citizens," Zaw Zin Khine said.

"We plan to plant the nation's flag with our own hands at the summit."

He also hopes they will inspire more climbers in a country that only boasts a few dozen enthusiasts.

But Harrington warns that reaching the summit is not everything and advises the team to "listen to the mountain".

"If it’s telling you not to go for it then don’t go for it. In my head the only thing that matters is that you come back alive."

THE NEWS: 40 children killed in Yemen bus strike: new Red Cross toll

40 children killed in Yemen bus strike: new Red Cross toll
source: AFP

AFP / STRINGER Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross says in a new toll

Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, the Red Cross said in a new toll Tuesday.

Fifty-six children were also among the 79 people wounded in the Thursday strike on Saada province, a rebel stronghold that borders Saudi Arabia, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

The new casualty toll came after a mass funeral was held for many of the dead children on Monday at which thousands vented anger against Riyadh and Washington.

Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 as Huthi rebel fighters closed in on the last bastion of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government.

The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since then, the vast majority of them civilians, and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

The UN Security Council called on Friday for a "credible" investigation into the deadly strike.

But it stopped short of demanding an independent investigation, and experts and aid groups voiced doubts that a promised coalition probe would provide transparency or accountability.

The coalition has been repeatedly blamed for bombing civilians, including a strike on a wedding hall in the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha in September 2015, in which 131 people died. The coalition denied responsibility.


AFP / STRINGER Thousands of Yemenis vent anger against Riyadh and Washington as they take part in a mass funeral in the rebel stronghold of Saada on August 13, 2018 for the children killed in the Saudi-led coalition air strike


In October 2016, a coalition air strike killed 140 people at a funeral in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

The coalition has admitted a small number of mistakes, but accuses the rebels of using civilians as human shields.

The high civilian death toll has been an embarrassment for Washington and other Western governments which supply the coalition with warplanes and other weapons.

But Washington continues to provide replacement munitions as well as intelligence and refuelling support for coalition aircraft.

THE NEWS: EU faces fresh standoff over Aquarius migrant boat

EU faces fresh standoff over Aquarius migrant boat
source: AFP

 AFP/File / BORIS HORVAT The Aquarius is a 77-metre (250 foot) rescue boat which has the capacity for carrying between 200 and 500 people

European countries faced pressure on Tuesday to resolve a fresh standoff with the operators of the migrant rescue ship Aquarius which is stranded for the second time in the Mediterranean carrying 141 people.

France said it was in touch with the other EU nations to "rapidly" find a port where the Aquarius could dock after it was refused entry by Italy and Malta, the two countries closest to its current location.

The Aquarius, which was left stranded with 630 migrants on board in June after being turned away by Rome and Valletta, resumed rescue operations off the Libyan coast last week.

France again voiced disapproval of Italy's "very tough political stance" -- milder language than two months ago when President Emmanuel Macron accused his Italian partners of "cynicism and irresponsibility".

The 141 migrants on board the Aquarius were picked up on Friday in two separate operations and are in a stable condition, the French charity that operates the Aquarius, SOS Mediterranee, said.

The first rescue saw 25 people plucked from a wooden boat bobbing on the seas off the Libyan coast, while another 116 were rescued from another larger vessel later in the day.

The second boat was overloaded and more than half of the passengers were unaccompanied children, mostly from Somalia and Eritrea. They had no food or water stocks, SOS Mediterranee said.

"We're asking all European countries to find a solution. We're asking them to be responsible and find a safe port in the Mediterranean," Sophie Beau, head of charity, told AFP on Monday.

Tove Ernst, a spokesman for the European Commission, said Monday that it was in contact with "a number of member states that have approached us regarding the incident" to try to find a "swift resolution" to the standoff.

- Hardline stance -

Since June, Italy's new far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has regularly turned away rescue ships operated by foreign NGOs, accusing them of playing into the hands of people smugglers.

On Saturday, he said the Gibraltar-flagged Aquarius would "never see an Italian port" again, accusing it of encouraging smugglers and migrants to take to the water in the knowledge that they will be rescued.

The Italian coast guard continues to rescue migrants, however.

The government of Gibraltar also announced a newly hostile attitude to the Aquarius, saying it would no longer be allowed to operate under its maritime flag after being registered on the British overseas territory in 2009.

The stance is a sign of hardening public opinion towards migrants in Europe following the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people who are fleeing war or poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

For years, Italy pleaded with its EU partners for help with a massive influx of arrivals that has seen 700,000 people cross the Mediterranean and land in the country since 2013.

The new Italian policy of turning back charity boats sparked a furious row among EU members in June, which was resolved only when Spain, under a new Socialist government, stepped in and offered to take in the Aquarius.

France's Macron was criticised by some on the left for failing to offer the Aquarius a port in France -- it was the next closest country to the boat after Italy and Malta -- despite an offer from the island of Corsica.

Local leaders on the French island have again pledged to provide a safe haven for the migrants, as has the port of Sete on the mainland -- but the invitations would need to be approved by the government in Paris.

"If the closest ports are closed, then others that are closer need to open," the head of the Corsican local assembly, Jean-Guy Talamoni, told the BFM channel on Tuesday.

"We left Italy alone to deal with the problem, but it's a problem for the whole of Europe," Talamoni added, calling on the French government to make a statement on the Aquarius crisis.

France took in 78 of the migrants on board the Aquarius in June after they landed in Spain.

This time a Spanish government source told AFP that Spain would not step in because "it is not the safest port" for the migrant ship to dock.

THE NEWS: Tech giants face hefty fines under Australia cyber laws

Tech giants face hefty fines under Australia cyber laws



GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / JUSTIN SULLIVAN Encryption within messaging apps has become a major headache for law enforcement agencies

Tech companies could face fines of up to Aus$10 million (US$7.3 million) if they fail to hand over customer information or data to Australian police under tough cyber laws unveiled Tuesday.

The government is updating its communication laws to compel local and international providers to co-operate with law enforcement agencies, saying criminals were using technology, including encryption, to hide their activities.

The legislation, first canvassed by Canberra last year, will take into account privacy concerns by "expressly" preventing the weakening of encryption or the introduction of so-called backdoors, Cyber Security Minister Angus Taylor said.

Taylor said over the past year, some 200 operations involving serious criminal and terrorism-related investigations were negatively impacted by the current laws.

"We know that more than 90 percent of data lawfully intercepted by the Australian Federal Police now uses some form of encryption," he added in a statement.

"We must ensure our laws reflect the rapid take-up of secure online communications by those who seek to do us harm."

The laws have been developed in consultation with the tech and communications industries and Taylor stressed that the government did not want to "break the encryption systems" of companies.

"The (law enforcement) agencies are convinced we can get the balance right here," he told broadcaster ABC.

"We are only asking them to do what they are capable of doing. We are not asking them to create vulnerabilities in their systems that will reduce the security because we know we need high levels of security in our communications."

The type of help that could be requested by Canberra will include asking a provider to remove electronic protections, concealing covert operations by government agencies, and helping with access to devices or services.

If companies did not comply with the requests, they face fines of up to Aus$10 million, while individuals could be hit with penalties of up to Aus$50,000. The requests can be challenged in court.

The draft legislation expands the obligations to assist investigators from domestic telecom businesses to encompass foreign companies, including any communications providers operating in Australia.

This could cover social media giants such as Facebook, WhatsApp and gaming platforms with chat facilities.

The Digital Industry Group (DIGI), which represents tech firms including Facebook, Google, Twitter and Oath in Australia, said the providers were already working with police to respond to requests within existing laws and their terms of service.

DIGI managing director Nicole Buskiewicz called for "constructive dialogue" with Canberra over the adoption of surveillance laws that respect privacy and freedom of expression.

THE NEWS: Turkish lira, equities enjoy bounce in Asia

Turkish lira, equities enjoy bounce in Asia
source: AFP

AFP / OZAN KOSE The Turkish lira continues to face pressure as central bank measures were met with disappointment

Turkey's lira edged up with other emerging market currencies in Asian trade Tuesday while equities also enjoyed a bounce after the previous day's turmoil.

Investors slowly edged back into buying mode but they are keeping a nervous eye on developments in Ankara after Monday's bloodletting that saw the lira hit record lows against the dollar and euro, and equity markets go into freefall on concerns Turkey's financial crisis could spread globally.

In Asia, the Turkish unit was at 6.60 to the dollar and 7.49 to the euro, well off the 7.24 to the dollar and 8.12 to the euro seen Monday but still uncomfortably high. The unit is down about a fifth against the greenback since Friday.

Fears about contagion in other economies, particularly emerging markets, sparked a sell-off across the board Monday but there were healthy recoveries in Asian business.

The Russian ruble, which lost two percent Monday, jumped 1.7 percent, while the South African rand was 2.2 percent higher, having lost seven percent a day earlier. The Mexican peso was up 1.8 percent.

South Korea's won was up 0.5 percent after losing almost one percent.

However, the rupee continued to suffer, briefly falling to a record low of 70 to the dollar as the crisis exacerbated a months-long sell-off in the Indian currency, which was already under pressure from a huge current-account deficit and higher oil prices.

N.S. Venkatesh, chief executive of the Association of Mutual Funds in India, told AFP investors were "concerned" about the drop but expected the currency to stabilise at around 69, describing India's economy as "strong".

"The Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy has shown concern for the rupee's fluctuations so investors should not be worried by knee-jerk reactions in the forex market," Venkatesh said.

India's central bank has raised interest rates twice this year, in part to help increase the value of the rupee.

- 'Contagion limited' -

Turkey's crisis has been sparked by a series of issues, including a faltering economy -- the central bank has defied market calls for rate hikes -- and tensions with the United States, which has hit Ankara with sanctions over its detention of an American pastor.

There was some optimism from news that Donald Trump's national security advisor John Bolton met Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic to discuss the pastor issue.

Traders remain nervous, though, and the central bank's announcement that it would provide lenders with liquidity and lower the amount of cash they needed to keep in reserve largely disappointed as it made no clear promise of rate hikes, which is what most economists say is needed.

Still, Ray Attrill, head of foreign-exchange strategy at the National Australia Bank, was hopeful the crisis will not spread.

"It's a large local difficulty, but so far the contagion has been relatively limited," he told Bloomberg Television.

"We're seeing a little bit of signs of contagion within the eurozone, within the spreads of those government bonds in countries where the banking sector appears to have the biggest exposure as far as Turkey is concerned. You'd have to say that Turkey is relatively contained."

On equity markets, Tokyo ended 2.3 percent higher as the safe-haven yen eased against the dollar, providing some support to exporters.

Sydney added 0.8 percent and Seoul was 0.5 percent higher, with Wellington, Mumbai and Taipei also posting healthy gains. Singapore was flat.

But Shanghai ended 0.2 percent lower and Hong Kong slipped 0.8 percent in the afternoon.

There remain concerns about how the crisis will pan out, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in combative mood, accusing the US of plotting against his country.

But for now analysts are broadly upbeat that Monday's plunge would not be repeated.

In early European trade, London rose 0.3 percent, Paris added 0.5 percent and Frankfurt gained 0.7 percent.

- Key figures around 0720 GMT -

Dollar/Turkish lira: DOWN at 6.90 lira from 6.96 lira late Monday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1423 from $1.1405

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2798 from $1.2763

Dollar/yen: UP at 111.05 yen from 110.63 yen

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.3 percent at 22,356.08 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.8 percent at 27,701.24

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 2,780.96 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 7,662.27

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 22 cents at $67.42 per barrel

Oil - Brent Crude: UP 15 cents at $72.76 per barrel

New York - Dow Jones: DOWN 0.5 percent at 25,187.70 (close)

THE NEWS: Civilian casualty fears rising in embattled Afghan city

Civilian casualty fears rising in embattled Afghan city
source: AFP

 AFP / Mohammad Anwar Danishyar Officials have said Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital two hours from Kabul, remains in government hands and that security forces are conducting a clearing operation

Fears were growing of civilian casualties as Afghan security forces backed by US airpower struggled to push the Taliban out of embattled Ghazni city, with reports of scores dead five days after fighting erupted.

Officials have said Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital two hours from Kabul, remains in government hands and that security forces are conducting a clearing operation.

But residents told AFP the insurgents remained in the streets, burning buildings and targeting civilians.

The United Nations said unverified reports put civilian casualties at more than 100 since the Taliban entered the city late Thursday, with residents also at risk from several days of US airstrikes.

An MP from Ghazni, Shah Gul Rezaye, said Tuesday that some parts of the city had been cleared.

But in others "the Taliban have positioned their fighters in high buildings shooting at security forces from there," he added.

Communication networks remained largely down, making any information difficult to verify.

"Ghazni is a ghost city now. The Taliban are going from house to house to find government officials or their relatives to kill," said one resident, Sayed Zia.

"Those who can are fleeing."

Another resident also said the Taliban were killing civilians who refused to help them.

"I saw two trucks full of coffins going toward a cemetery in the city. They all seemed to be civilians," said Abdullah, who asked to only use one name.

"The city is full of smoke. Everywhere they go they set the places on fire," he said, adding that shops were being looted, with water and food scarce.

Other residents have told AFP of bodies littering the streets of the city in recent days.

"So far the fighting has reportedly resulted in 110 to 150 civilian casualties. The numbers still need to be verified," said a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Clearing operations in urban centres are inherently dangerous and slow. Reports the Taliban are hiding in residents' homes and marketplaces "heightened the risk of civilian casualties arising from any military aerial response," the UN warned.

Bombs placed along the road leading north and south from the city also "prevented civilians from safely fleeing the violence", it said.

On Monday the Afghan defence minister said at least 100 security forces had been killed in the fighting so far, and "20-30" civilians.

Ghazni lies along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively serving as a gateway between Kabul and the militant strongholds in the south.

The assault on the city has been the largest tactical onslaught by the Taliban since an unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, providing war-weary Afghans some welcome relief.

THE NEWS: 'Number of pedestrians' injured by car outside UK parliament: police

'Number of pedestrians' injured by car outside UK parliament: police
source: AFP

AFP / AFP Map of London locating the Parliament, where a car crashed into barriers

A "number of pedestrians" were injured when a car crashed into barriers outside Britain's Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, with armed police swooping in to arrest the driver, Scotland Yard said.

"The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene," the police statement said. "A number of pedestrians have been injured."

None of the injuries are believed to be "life-threatening", said police, who were yet to say if they suspected terrorism.

London Ambulance said they had treated two people at the scene for non-serious injuries and taken them to hospital.

Armed police immediately surrounded the silver car after it crashed at 7.37am (06:37 GMT), pointing guns at the driver as he was removed from the vehicle, according to footage posted on Twitter.

Later images showed police holding the man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, in handcuffs as roads and Underground stations around parliament were sealed off.

Witness Ewalina Ochab told the Press Association that the incident "looked intentional".

"I was walking on the other side. I heard some noise and someone screamed," she said.

"I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement.

"I think it looked intentional -- the car drove at speed and towards the barriers."

Westminster was the scene of a terror attack last year, when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam, drove a car at pedestrians on a bridge over the River Thames, before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside parliament.

The attack left five people dead and around 50 injured, and only ended when police shot Masood dead.

Britain endured a tumultuous period following the March 22 rampage, with four further terror attacks, including three in the capital at London Bridge, Finsbury Park and Parsons Green tube station.